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| Comics101> Story to Script > Idea > Plot > Synopsis > Review > Activity > Comic pages and panels> Write> Activity |
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The
first step in writing a comic script is exactly the same as for a storyboard.
You break down the plot or synopsis into pages so you know exactly what
will occur on each page of your script. Next you estimate how many panels
you expect to use on each page. |
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On a comic script, everything is labelled by page and panel. For example, if the first page of your script is a three-panel page leading off with a splash panel, your labeling would begin with the SPLASH PANEL (which is Page 1-Panel 1), followed by Page 1-Panel 2, then Page 1-Panel 3, and so forth. (A splash panel often takes up the whole page, but sometimes it is one-half or one-third of the page.) After you label each page and panel, write in CAPTIONS (if any), ART DIRECTION, and DIALOGUE for each panel. Dialogue is labeled by character - that is, you list who is talking. Any sound effects you want to include in the panel can also be indicated in the art direction by using a sound effect (SFX) label in the script, like this: SFX (of car leaving): VA-ROOM A good way to script what is happening in each panel is to start with captions if there are any, because they usually appear at the top of the panel. Then write the art directions for the panel. Next, list the dialogue and which character is speaking. Finally, add any sound effects. |
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The illustration above shows the format a scripter uses for each panel on every page of a script. For the art direction, the writer caan be as descriptive as he or she feels is necessary. Some writers like to be very brief with art direction. Others become quite involved and even suggest the angle the panel should be viewed from. In the art direction, give the time of day, location or place, the characters who are on hand, how they should look (clothing, expressions, general appearance), what the characters are doing, and what action is taking place. |
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Lets look at a page from the script for our horror comic "Monster
Sale". |
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